I feel this on so many levels. I’ve had to re-evaluate and re-structure my whole circle during these past couple of years and have found that just because you’ve known somebody since forever doesn’t mean they’re any good for you. Sometimes the people closest to you don’t want you to make it because they fear losing you or to see you make it would invalidate all their excuses… The struggle is real when you’re on the path to success. Follow: @iamlatrelljames

This was pretty much our equivalent of ratchet music. I honestly didn’t know white girls could get this turnt before I saw this way back in ’98. I guess you could say Envyi paved the way for P!nk and Kreayshawn. Did you catch a young Polow da Don though?

You can never go wrong with an ode to bad females, which Drake is always good for. It’s funny how everybody was all on Drake’s d*ck when he was underground and 1st came out. Now, you’ll be hard pressed to find anybody willingly admit to being a fan, as if it’s a faux pas to f*ck with anybody that’s made it. Go figure. Fav line: “Shine on them hoes. Let them know that you run shit!”

I grew up in View Park aka the Black Beverly Hills and to be honest I didn’t appreciate anything I had. Which is why I had it all taken away. I went from having $400 Ralph Lauren Polo jackets to wincing at $20 shirt price tags. From getting into every college I applied to, including Berkeley, USC and UCLA to taking almost a decade to finish community college. From having a nice little red 2 door somethin with a moonroof, tricked out Acura and Navigator to driving something that’s 40 miles from falling apart. Life has a funny way of teaching you what you need to know. And God has a funny way of making you into who you need to become. In retrospect I can see why I had everything taken away from me and had to go through all that I’ve had to this past decade: to teach gratitude and strengthen my character. I honestly know I couldn’t have my dreams being the person I was. So, now I’m thankful for everything. The good and the bad. The ups and the downs. The highs and the lows. Because I know that they all made […]

What a better way to kick off Throwback Thursday than with the ultimate f*ck you anthem, No Time by Lil’ Kim circa 1996. I remember when I first saw this and was like “what. is. this?!” It was like I was experiencing a whole other world. A fly world. A dope world, where women had more balls than men and designer clothes reigned supreme. Fav line: “And while you niggas talk sh!t we count bank figures”